How long will it take to get my patio built?
Before we are able to build your patio, we need approval from your local council to do so. This is called a 'Building Permit' and can take anywhere from a few days up to 4 weeks to receive. The average waiting time for a council to grant this is 3 weeks. Once we have a 'Building Permit', we aim to have your patio built within 4 weeks. The average time from start to finish is 6 weeks. The catch with this is when your patio requires Planning approval. Some patios will require a planning aproval before a building permit can be granted and this will delay the approval process somewhat depending on your shire.
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Do you handle council applications?
Yes, we normally apply for council approval on your behalf. We will submit all the required drawings, site plans and engineering requirements and ensure that the whole process is completed in the quickest possible time.
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How big can I make my patio?
There are many factors that affect this decision. All homes along with any additions are meant to comply with the Residential Design Codes of Western Australia This document details requirements and conditions that govern your patio addition which includes setbacks from fences, heights of the proposed structure and the maximum sizes possible depending on the size of the property. We are more than happy to advise you on whether your proposal will be acceptable and be compliant.
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How close to my neighbor’s fence can I get?
The Residential Design Codes again govern these dimensions, but a general rule is the patio roof and columns must be no closer than 1.0m from a neighboring fence line. With a signed consent form, we may be able to build the patio up to 500mm from the fence line. It can even be possible to put the columns of the patio right up against the fenceline as long as the roofline remains 500mm off. In most cases, requesting to put the patio closer than 1.0m will require a planning application as well as a building application and extra fees are usually involved.
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If I want to go ahead with the quote you have given me, how much deposit do we need to pay?
Payment terms are set up so you pay a small deposit. Once we have obtained shire approval and we have begun work on preparing your patio we require a progress payment. We leave a large portion of the payment until the end once you are completely satisfied with your finished patio.
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What warranty do I get on my new patio?
All of the materials in your Great Aussie Patio are of the finest quality and are built to last. We use only Australian made Colorbond and Orrcon steel. Our goal is to have you purchase again and again as you upgrade your house or move home. In the unlikely event of a problem arising with our workmanship we will remedy this immediately. Our workmanship is warrantied for 6 years from practical completion as per WA Building regulations. The Steel items in a patio have no warranty. Colorbond do not warranty open sided roof applications. Only sheds with concrete flooring are warrantable. Therefore no patio company should be claiming the roof sheeting or gutters are covered by warranty. The only safeguard for your patio is the regular cleaning schedule.
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How much polycarbonate should I put in my patio?
This is very much a personal decision and can be best answered by a few simple questions on what the ultimate purpose of the patio area is designed for. If your main requirement is for shade and cooling, then a highly reflective colorbond roof may be the best solution. If you wish to design an area that is usable all year round but don’t wish to reduce the light that enters your house then polycarbonate is more suitable. We find a mix of materials can work best in most situations to give the best balance between heat and shade. Explore our pages on roof sheeting options to learn more.
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Does my patio include Gutters and Downpipes?
All of our patios include gutters and Downpipes that comply with the Building Code of Australia. We ensure that the correct size guttering and Downpipes are included to handle the extremes of a Perth winter storm. We can use a variety of guttering solutions but recommend that the patio we build has independent gutters and Downpipes to the existing house. This eliminates the probability of any water leakage or water related damage to your home that can occur with guttering systems that other companies insist upon.
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I get strong winds where I live, how do I know my patio won’t blow away?
There are requirements in the building license that we receive before building your patio that the structure complies with the Building Code of Australia (BCA). Great Aussie Patios use the services of a certified structural engineer who ensures all of our patio designs comply with the BCA.
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Why should I choose a Colorbond steel patio instead of a timber patio?
There are a number of features of Colorbond Steel patios that make them a great alternative to timber patios:
- A Beautiful and elegant appearance
- Quick and clean installation
- Superior durability
- Forest friendly
- No painting
- No termite treatments required
- Considerably less weight load on your house
- Minimal ongoing maintenance
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Does it cost any more for certain colours?
Other companies may charge you more but with Great Aussie Patios you can choose any Colorbond colour combinations for no extra charge.
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Does it cost me any more for polycarbonate skylight sheets?
Most other companies will charge a fee to include skylight panels. Great Aussie Patios allows you to have as many or as little poly sheets as you like for no extra cost.
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Is this your business?
Great Aussie Patios is an independent family owned business, and operates solely in the Perth Metropolitan area. The owner started the business in 2000 and still works as Manager of the business, continually seeking new and relevant ways to improve the quality or service and products.
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Is the price you have given your best price?
The prices we quote are very competitive and we only give our best price straight up. If you want a cheaper price, it will come at the expense of the job, for example, reducing the size or shape of the structure, reducing size or quantity of beams or using inferior quality materials. Remember this saying – “The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of a cheap price”.
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What Height can we make our patio?
Most patios will usually start at a height around 2.4m above ground level. Most gable or dome patios will have a peak height of around 3.2m. You could make your patio higher but the general feeling of space works well around 3.2m. Any higher may seem too high and result in patios that stand out from your house too much.
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